Page 103 of The Innocent

She rested her head on the doorframe. “Can I ask you something?”

That was always a loaded question. He assumed she wanted to talk about the discussion earlier. Jekyll wasn’t backing down. She wasn’t taking the meeting with Logan. But he’d hear her out.

“Yeah.”

She drew in a breath, hesitating. “Did you ever think of me?”

Think of her? He furrowed his brows, and she inched closer.

“I mean after you left prison. Did you ever” —she shrugged, but her gaze dropped down to his chest and her voice lowered— “Think about me?”

He had, plenty of times. Immediately after his release, he didn’t think of much else. She’d been his obsession, unbeknownst to most people, Imogene included. Answering was a no-brainer. But it was complicated. An admission left him in a vulnerable position. He was notoriously guarded, always had been.

“You ever think of me?” He was turning it back on her without answering. It was a calculated move.

She peeked up, smiling. “All the time.”

Jekyll clenched his jaw.

“I wondered what you were up to and if you were happy.” She veered her gaze across the room. “I saw you leave. When you were released, I watched you and Hyde walk out.”

I know.

“Thought that was the last time I’d ever see you.”

Me too.

“Well,” she let out a heavy breath. “I should get going or I’ll be late.”

“Come here.” He curled his finger, and her cheeks pinkened.

When she was a foot away, he hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her to his chest. He cupped her cheek, brushing his mouth against hers.

“I’m gonna be late if I don’t leave right now,” she mumbled against his lips.

“Then you’re gonna be fucking late.” Jekyll didn’t wait for a response and kissed her.

“Jekyll.” Her body shook as she laughed.

He finally relented, releasing his hold. Imogene gathered her things and he walked her to her car. The street was quiet. With only three of them living on it, he wasn’t surprised.

“I’ll text you when I get home,” she shrugged. “If you want.”

It was unnecessary. With the tracker, he’d know her whereabouts. But she didn’t know that. It would also give him a piece of information he didn’t have. Where she lived.

“Yeah, do that.”

She smiled, opening the door and tossing her bags in the backseat. He stepped down the stairs. This was another first for him. He didn’t want her to leave.

She waved from the car, and he watched her head down the road, veering right slightly when a motorcycle passed. He expected it to be Cue or Cross since they were the only other two living in the houses. It wasn’t.

“Ah fuck.”

Hyde pulled into his driveway, shut down his bike, and pulled off his helmet. He turned to the empty road, smirking.

“Is that who I think it was?”

Jekyll ignored him and crossed the street. It was no surprise to him when Hyde sidled up next to him.